Toy researcherKatriina Heljakka (Doctor of Arts, MA (Art history), M.Sc. (Econ.), holds apost-doctoral position at University of Turku (digital culture studies) andcontinues her research on toys and the visual, material, digital and socialcultures of play in the Academy of Finland project Centre of Excellence in GameCulture Studies. Her current research interests include the emergingtoyification of contemporary culture, toy design and the hybrid and socialdimensions of ludic practices. During her career, Heljakka, who received herdoctorate from Aalto University, has worked in the toy industry as a gamedesigner and creative manager responsible for trend-related research andconcept creation. In parallel to being an academic, Heljakka has been involvedin character creation, authored children’s storybooks and participated inmultiple art exhibitions with her toy-related photography and playable artinstallations both in Finland, Portugal and the U.S. To explore the disciplineof toy design education, Heljakka has visited and lectured (and played) at thetoy design programs of the Polytechnic University in Hong Kong, DelftUniversity, Shenkar College in Tel Aviv, MIT Game Lab, Fashion Institute ofTechnology in New York and OTIS School of Design in Los Angeles. In 2017,Heljakka visited the Strong National Institute of Play as a research fellow. Shecurrently acts as the Chief of Play at Pori Laboratory of Play (PLOP). Contact:katriina.heljakka@utu.fi